Je pars en Australie cet été et vais rejoindre Alice Springs / Yulara en camping-car 4x4 pendant 7 jours à partir d'Adélaide.
J'aimerais emprunter des routes secondaires, d'où le 4x4, pour faire ce circuit mais j'ai besoin de vos lumières pour trouver le meilleur itinéraire.
Je pense passer par la Barrossa Valley en partant d'Adelaide (1 nuit ?) pour déguster du bon vin puis aller dans les Flinders Rangees (1 nuit ?), rejoindre Marree puis emprunter l'Oodnadatta Track.
Mais après Marla qui est à la jonction de l'Oodnadatta Track et de la Stuart Highway je ne sais pas quelle route emprunter pour sortir des sentiers battus et rejoindre Yulara 🤪
1. A l'Ouest de la Stuart Highway, c le territoire aborigène, est-ce possible de le traverser ? Est ce intéressant ?
2. Vaut-il mieux longer la Stuart Highway à l'Est vers le Mont Alberta et Bagot range puis bifurquer ensuite via Erldunda vers Yulara ?
3. Si aucun circuit 2ndaire à la Stuart Highway n'existe, n'est accessible (territoire aborigène) ou n'est intéressant, j'ai lu que l'Oodnadatta track ne nécessitait pas de 4x4. En ce sens, louer un véhicule 4x4 est-il vraiment judicieux ? (puisque qu'après l'Oodnadatta track je récupèrerais la Stuart Highway).
Après Yulara, je rejoins Alice Springs pour déposer le camping-car et prendre l'avion vers Darwin.
Est-ce jouable de passer par les Mac Donnell Ranges en allant à Alice Springs ? J'ai 7 jours en tout.
Je vous remercie tous pour votre aide précieuse, je pars dans moins de 3 semaines... 🤪😉
1) D'apès ma carte pour circuler dans le territoire aborigènes il te faudrat un permis, c'est tout ce que je peut te dire sur le sujet😕
3) C'est vrai que l'oodnadatta track ne necessite pas de 4X4, mais le véhicule normal, pas 4X4, que tu louerais à la place est il autorisé à rouler plus de 5kms sur les routes non goudronnées?
Pour moi qui ai loué une voiture en Australie et en NZ, c'était spécifié, je ne devais pas rouler plus de 5kms sur des pistes. Maintenant il est vrai que je n'ai pas vu le nombre de fois 5kms😕😛 Alors 5+ 5+...🤪
Désolée de ne poouvoir t'aider plus
Pour que ça serve à tous et pour que vous puissiez rebondir, ci-dessous des extraits de la réponse de miesele à mon post :
"Bonjour Deedou,
Je ne te conseille nullement de faire de la piste avec un véhicule autre qu'un 4x4 car si tu as un souci tu n'es pas assuré et là ça risque de te coûter cher.
Dommage aussi de "perdre" une journée dans la Barossa Valley car c'est l'hiver en ce moment et c'est comme faire la Champagne en décembre. Les bons vins australiens tu pourras les acheter dans tous les wineshops et les déguster dans le bush ou en admirant le coucher de soleil sur Uluru.
Si tu vas au Flinders Ranges fait une petite halte avant dans la ville de Quorn, très typique.
Pourquoi ne pas quitter l'Oodnadatta Track à William Creek et faire une visite de Coober Pedy (mines d'opales) habitations, hôtels, églises, la ville est souterraine, c'est pas grand mais c'est très très spécial.
Pour pénétrer dans certains territoires aborigènes je sais qu'il faut des permis qu'il faut demander parfois plusieurs semaines, voire plusieurs mois à l'avance.
Comme tu n'as pas trop de temps le mieux est de profiter des visites et de faire la route au plus rapide, donc la Suart Highway de Coober Pedy jusqu'à Erldunda puis la Lasseter Highway pour aller à Uluru.
Ne négligez pas les Monts Olgas beaucoup moins touristiques. Nous y avons fait une rando super dans la Vallée des Vents. Depuis Uluru, revenir par la même route jusqu'à la bifurcation à gauche pour Kings Canyon, vraiment dommage de le rater surtout que vu que vous avez un 4x4 vous pouvez vous rendre ensuite directement dans les West Mac Donnell par la Mereenie Loop Road (piste) d'où un gain de temps considérable et pour finir Alice Springs.
Ne pouvez-vous pas rendre le camping-car à Darwin ??? Il y a encore tellement de choses à voir et à faire d'Alice Springs à Darwin. En vous levant tôt cela rallonge les journées et c'est jouable sur 7 jours.
Ou bien louez-vous une voiture à Darwin pour aller à Kakadu et aux gorges de Katherine ?
Peut-être avez-vous le guide Lonely Planet, nous avons construit tout notre périple d'un mois grâce à lui, c'était un voyage fabuleux pour nous car nous adorons la nature et la rando.
Par contre nous avons laissé tomber les visites du style jardin botanique à Alice et autres attractions touristiques. La faune et la flore nous la découvrons lors de nos balades. Encore un détail non négligeable, on consomme énormément d'eau, en ce qui nous concerne jusqu'à 5 l/personne certains jours (+ le vin le soir !!!). "
Je vais donc approfondir ça avec une carte en main.
Je me pose une autre question dès lors, faire le trajet tranquille avec les randos et visites jusqu'à Darwin en 7 jours comme me le conseille Miesele est-ce vraiment jouable ? Ca me semble court ... toute l'Australei à traverser ! 🤪😊
A miesele, pourrais tu me donner ton itinéraire général d'un mois en pays d'Oz ? Sur ce post ou l'autre "idées de circuit de 4 semaines en Australie".
Suis d'accord, zap la dégustation dans la Barossa, je suis peut être pas tombée sur la bonne cave, et en plus ça ne m'interesse pas trop, mais le Risling que j'ai goutté, j'ai eu aucun mal à le recracher🤪, j'ai pas testé autre chose, mais les autres n'étaient pas convaincus non plus.
7 jours à mon avis c'est pour faire Adélaide Alice, faut rajouter mini 3 jours de plus pour gagner Darwin, faut quand même le temps d'en profiter.
Une étape à Coober Pedy pourquoi pas, mais pas plus d'une demi journée. Un petit tour jusqu'à Breakway reserve, rien que pour les couleurs ça vault le détour.
100% d'accord pour la vallée of the wind à Kata tjuta, et le levé de soleil y est tout aussi grandiose qu'à Uluru, je suppose😕 mais avec beaucoup moins de monde😛 et ça c'est sur.
Pas fait la Mereenie loop.
Merci...
pour la Barossa valley je vais m'entêter suite à la réponse de Nathalie sur mon post à ce sujet
pour l'info sur la Breakway reserve, je regarde où c pour la caser dans le circuit
pour Coober Pedy j'hésite car ça me fait rejoindre la Highway...🤪, je vois nuggets demain, peut être me convaincra t'il ! 😉
pour Kata Tjuta, c'était prévu...Uluru n'est pas le but de mon voyage, le délire commercial me fait fuir...donc je m'y arrête après la traversée du désert (c ce qui m'intèresse) mais n'y vais pas exprès...😛
Si d'autres vfistes ont des avis, faites vous plaisir ! 🙂
alors voilà je m'appel hervé, et j'arrive sur brisbane le 18février... enfin la date est fixé... au programme... ben y'en a pas en fait... de sur et certain je…
Je reviens sur les discutions concernant les contrats d'assurance...! Comme beaucoup d'entre nous je pars en Australie avec WHV! En vu des prix des frais…
J'ai une petite question. Je recherche une carte de paiement pour l’Australie de préférence prépayer pour ainsi évité les frais de ma banque et également ne…
L'Australie vient de changer les quantités de cigarettes hors taxes qu'elle autorise à importer dans le pays. De 250 cigarettes auparavant, elle n'autorise…
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the scattered info out there and I'm struggling to organize my solo trip to French Polynesia. I'm all about snorkeling—no hiking for me—so it's all about the water, water, water... I'd love to meet whales (what's the best season?), stay with locals or in budget guesthouses (I'm pretty low-key, no worries about comfort), and most importantly, be as close to the coral reefs as possible (all day long...).
I'm retired, so I've got plenty of time...
If you can help, it would mean the world to me.
Thanks everyone! !
Hi,
I'm planning a trip to this region in November. My initial plan was Adelaide-Darwin by van, but I'm worried about those critters. I'm now considering staying in hotels instead, but for the Red Centre, camping is more practical... if we overlook those pests.
What do you think? Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m reaching out because I’m finally living my dream later this year, and I could really use your advice!
On December 26th, I’m flying to Tahiti, then Moorea, and finally Bora-Bora.
Since I’ll be staying in Bora-Bora for several days, I’d love to take a day trip to another island: either Maupiti or Tahaa-Raiatea (my top picks...).
My issue is that the schedules for getting to Tahaa and then to Raiatea don’t quite work for me. Here are the two options I’ve looked into:
**Option 1: Day trip to Tahaa-Raiatea**
- Morning departure at 7:00 AM to Tahaa from Vaitape (I’ll be staying on a motu, so I need to check if there’s a shuttle connecting the motu to Vaitape early enough).
- Arrival at 8:15 AM in Poutoru, Tahaa. Tour of the island, visit to a vanilla plantation.
- Hire a "private" boat to Raiatea around 12:00–1:00 PM.
- Tour of Raiatea.
- Departure at 4:00 PM from Uturoa (Raiatea) back to Bora-Bora.
**Option 2: Day trip to Maupiti**
- Morning departure from Bora-Bora at 8:30 AM.
- Arrival in Maupiti at 10:05 AM. Visit the island and the motus.
- Return in the evening at 4:00 PM.
My questions:
- Will I have enough time to explore Tahaa-Raiatea from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM?
- Car rental? Bike rental? For all three islands...
- Time lost during rentals?
- Distance between rental shops and the ports where I arrive?
- For Tahaa and Raiatea, should I hire a guide? Would that be better organized, meaning no car rental needed, to save time or explore the island on my own?
- Finally, what do you think of these three islands and their points of interest? Which would you choose between Maupiti and Tahaa-Raiatea?
If you can shed some light on this, I’d be so grateful!!!!!!!
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and advice!
Hello! We’re heading to the Marquesas in July-August and I’d love to know if it’s possible, for a fee, to do a leg of the journey on the Aranui—like from Hiva Oa to Fatu Hiva, or Nuku Hiva to Ua Pou, or even Ua Pou to Ua Huka? Sure, there are shuttles twice a week with Codim connecting these islands, but the schedules won’t be known until two months in advance, and I need to book flights and hotels much earlier than that. So, what’s the best way to handle this?
Looking forward to your replies—thanks in advance!
Elisabeth Marcel
babeth.marcel@yahoo.fr
Hi there,
I’d like to go to French Polynesia.
I found round-trip flights for 650 € with Air Caraïbes.
That seems really cheap—anyone here who can tell me about this airline if you’ve flown with them before?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi everyone. I’ve got a round-trip ticket to Perth for 4 weeks. Is it better to stay on the west coast the whole time?
Or should I grab a round-trip to the east coast?
Or even head over to NZ as well?
Thanks for your tips.
We’re crossing New Zealand next April and we’re wondering which to choose between exploring Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.
The first is more well-known, famous, and popular, a UNESCO natural heritage site, while the second can be just as spectacular—bigger, harder to access, and less touristy.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I’ve blocked out 3 weeks at the end of March/beginning of April, arriving in Sydney and departing from Adelaide while following the coast.
Kangaroo Island is a bit of a question mark for me. If I go, I can dedicate 2.5 days to it. Is it worth the time and the cost? I’ve read plenty of travel journals highlighting the landscapes and wildlife, but I’m sure I’ll see plenty of that along my route anyway. I’m not factoring in the financial side (which isn’t negligible for KI), but I’d rather not be disappointed. What are the real added values of KI, especially since the island has been affected by fires? I’ve also come across people online calling it a tourist trap. For example, I ruled out Phillip Island because it felt too organized and structured. Sorry if I’m opening Pandora’s box here!
Hi! I just spent a month in New Caledonia (backpacking/tent) and I know some of you were looking for info on accommodations and itineraries, so feel free to reach out if you want me to share my little experience. Just to say—New Caledonia is AMAZING!!!
Hi there,
I just got back from two weeks in Fiji, and I noticed the forum discussions here are a bit outdated (the most recent ones are from 2017).
So feel free to ask if you'd like an update!
Hi,
I’m heading to Viti Levu, the main island, for a few days’ vacation.
I usually rent a two-wheeler to keep some independence.
On several forums, people advised against it—first because it’s not really the local culture, and also because of the road conditions and local driving habits.
But I’m a bit wary of English-language forums where the typical vacation is just airport-resort-airport with a taxi in between.
Can you confirm if it’s really that risky compared to, say, Southeast Asia? What are the alternatives? Buses, taxis?
Thanks!
I’m planning and budgeting a trip to Australia for August 2026, lasting 40 days.
Here’s the current itinerary:
Arrival at Port Macquarie Airport in New South Wales and return from Cairns Airport in Queensland.
- South West Rock
- Cap Ridge Park
- Springbrook Park
- Stradbroke Island
- Maleny
- Noosa
- Rainbow Beach
- K’Gari
- Gladstone
- Heron Island
- Airlie Beach
- Townsville
- Magnetic Island
- Cairns
- Cape Tribulation
My main issue is transport to cover all of this.
The first leg is already tricky—I haven’t found a way to rent a car in Port Macquarie and drop it off in South West Rock.
And if we keep the vehicle until Cleveland (8 days) before taking the ferry to Stradbroke Island, it’s already around 1000 €.
- Are there any systems where we could buy a vehicle in Port Macquarie and be sure it’s bought back at the end of the trip in Cairns?
- Do you know of any Australian online car rental sites?
As for trains, they’re not really an option for our stay in New South Wales.
In Queensland, I found the Queensland Rail Travel website with a Brisbane–Cairns line, but trains don’t run every day.
- Do you know of any other train companies in Queensland that connect coastal cities from Brisbane to Cairns?
For flights, I checked Queensland with Qantas, and most routes require a stopover in Brisbane, which wastes a lot of time, and the prices are still high.
Do you know of any low-cost airlines for domestic flights in Australia?
2025 is shaping up to be amazing, as I’m lucky enough to be planning a 6-week trip to Polynesia.
I wanted to buy the *Guide du Routard* (my favorite), but I discovered there isn’t one for this destination. And the *Lonely Planet* is from 2022, which I feel is already a bit outdated.
So I’m looking for other resources: in your opinion, what’s the best paper guide, and most importantly, what online resources have you used to prepare a trip to Polynesia?
My wife, our 3-year-old son, and I are planning a trip along Australia’s East Coast, leaving in early October and returning in mid-November. The plan is to do a 4-week road trip in a campervan, then settle down for about ten days.
The question I’m asking myself is: which way should we go? From Sydney to Cairns or the other way around? Despite all the documentation I’ve read, I’m still struggling to decide the best direction based on the climate at that time and swimming conditions.
Up north, the weather will be warmer, and the water too, unlike the south. However, in the north, there are swimming restrictions, especially because of jellyfish, whereas in the south, there seems to be less danger (apart from sharks, maybe). Are there many protected beaches in the north where we can swim safely?
Also, I should consider that in the south, the Great Barrier Reef no longer protects the beaches, so I imagine there are fewer calm spots for swimming?
I’d love any tips or advice you can share, and thanks in advance!
Hi there,
for a 6-month trip to Australia and NZ starting in NOVEMBER, I’d like to visit PNG and the Solomon Islands. Has anyone already explored these two countries?
How can you travel solo there—transport, accommodation, banking, safety—and what’s the best way to get there from AUS?
Thanks for any tips! Are there any French-language sites about these destinations?
Cheers,
jps
Hi there,
I’m leaving on March 4th for Australia from Réunion Island, landing in Perth, then a road trip down to Melbourne before flying out to Vietnam on April 15th.
I’d like to visit Perth and the surrounding area, then head southwest to Margaret River, Albany, Esperance, and back to Perth to catch a flight to Adelaide. From there, I’ll make my way to Melbourne.
1/ What do you think of this itinerary?
2/ For flights, are there any domestic airlines worth prioritizing for good prices?
3/ I’m planning to rent a car after exploring Perth and the area—I’m traveling solo. Any rental companies you’d recommend, as well as nice hotels, B&Bs, or hostels?
4/ Any tips, good deals, or info are welcome—don’t hesitate to share!
Thanks in advance.
I’m planning a solo trip from April 16th to June 2nd!
I have to work for 3 weeks in Papeete when I arrive in French Polynesia, so I can only explore on the weekends (3-day weekends). For my first weekend, I’ll visit Tahiti; my second weekend will be dedicated to Moorea, and the last weekend to Huahine.
After my work period, I’ll continue with my vacation and keep exploring:
Maupiti - 4 nights
Raiatea - 3 nights (including a day trip to Tahaa)
Bora Bora - 3 nights
Rangiroa - 4 nights (could do 3)
Tikehau - 2 nights (could do 3)
Fakarava - 3 nights
For activities, I’m mostly interested in discovering the islands, hiking, and observing wildlife.
I’m not a diver, but I plan to do a beginner’s dive once I’m there. I love snorkeling, though, and I’m wondering if I’m spending too much time in the Tuamotus, which are famous for diving from what I’ve seen.
For travel between the islands, I’ve already looked into the Bora Tuamotu Max pass, which seems like the best option, but I’d love advice on replacing it with one or more ferries.
What do you think? I’m struggling to finalize my itinerary.
We’ll be in Adelaide from February 24th to March 4th and we’d like to spend 3 days and 2 nights on Kangaroo Island.
Any recommendations?
We always travel with simple accommodations
Hi everyone, we're heading to Australia next month. We have 7 days to go from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road. Should we visit Kangaroo Island or not? We can't decide! Thanks for your advice.
We really want to see kangaroos and koalas in their natural habitat.
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to NZ at the end of January.
It’s peak season—do you think it’s necessary to book activities in advance (like a cruise to Milford Sound), or is it not essential?
Thanks
We’ll be in New Zealand starting March 15th. We’re considering renting a car from Christchurch to Auckland. We’ve read that a lot of ferries have been canceled—is that true? Would it be better to rent one car in the South Island and another in the North Island? Thanks, and happy New Year!
Hi,
When I hear our French friends talk about them, they’re the most beautiful islands in the world.
For those of you who’ve traveled extensively, is that really the case?
Are the prices for accommodation, even basic ones, justified? Isn’t a room in a family-run guesthouse at 150/200 € a bit much?
Are there other islands in Polynesia (non-French) that are just as "paradise-like" but more affordable?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Hi everyone,
A quick introduction. I'm 27, I live in Picardy, and I'm getting married in 2017. We'd like to spend our honeymoon in French Polynesia for 3 weeks.
I'm open to all kinds of advice!!!
I think we'll use a travel agency because our work schedules don't leave us much time to organize the trip... Unless I change my mind! ;-)
But we don’t want our trip to turn into tourist clichés—we really don’t like that. That said, we *do* want to see those postcard-perfect beaches and landscapes!
We don’t dive, but I think we’ll try a beginner’s dive, and maybe even get our Level 1 certification, depending on how it goes (I read some comments about it on this forum).
Anyway, I’m looking for any information and internet links to make this trip a success.
This is THE trip of a lifetime, and it has to be perfect!
Thanks for your help!
I’m also checking out the different threads about Polynesia on this forum ;-)
Hi everyone,
What great news to read that Voyage Forum is back up and running—I’m so happy! 🙂 I need some advice for a trip we’re planning in 2025: New Caledonia and Australia.
We’ll arrive in Australia on September 1, 2025, and the plan is to spend 2 nights in Melbourne to explore the city, then rent a car to drive from Melbourne to Sydney, where we’ll arrive on September 12. Unfortunately, we won’t have time for the Great Ocean Road
I’ve checked several blogs for this route and here’s the itinerary I’ve put together:
9/4: Melbourne to Philip Island (140 km) – 1 night
9/5: Philip Island to Wilsons Promontory National Park – 2 nights
9/7: Raymond Island (free ferry to cross a 200 m sea channel) – Lakes Entrance – 1 night
9/8: Drive to Narooma (stop at Quarry Beach) – 1 night at "Bodalla Park Forest Rest Area"
9/9: Batemans Bay – Pebbly Beach – Dolphin Point – Jervis Bay – 1 night (to be found)
9/10: Jervis Bay and surroundings – 1 night at Bendeela Picnic Area
9/11: Blue Mountains National Park (1 hour from Sydney) – 1 night (to be found)
9/12: Arrival in Sydney
I know we won’t be able to see everything, and this 9-day route is just a starting point. The goal is to avoid rushing—if we see a place we like, we’ll stop, even if it means seeing less. A vacation where we don’t watch the clock too much! 🙂
Does this route (a mix of several blogs where not all stops are noted) seem realistic or too ambitious? Are there certain spots that are more worth prioritizing over the ones I’ve listed? For example, in one of the blogs I read, travelers skipped Blue Mountains National Park because they chose another site (which I’ve forgotten 😎).
For accommodation, we’ll likely be camping (free or paid), so if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them! 😎
Our arrival in Sydney on September 12 depends on my hope to participate in the marathon on September 15, 2025. After that, we’ll leave Sydney on September 17 for Ayers Rock.
Thanks in advance for your tips and ideas—it’s always tricky to plan a route from a distance when time is limited.
And long live this site, which I’ve missed so much since 2020! 😎🙂
😉
